Every day, people spend an estimated seven hours watching television, and what is seen in that seven hours is changing rapidly. The days of family-friendly sitcoms are becoming a thing of the past. Reality TV is becoming increasingly popular and viewers are tuning into the unscripted and dramatic as opposed to spending their time watching a news station or another form of entertainment. It’s not to say that those other shows are obsolete, they certainly aren’t, but people have become obsessed with reality television and it is undoubtedly becoming the most popular form of TV. It’s is becoming harder to avoid and easier to watch all at the same time because of how reality television draws people in with getting caught up in the drama in other people’s lives. Shows such as “Breaking Amish” and “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo” are two new reality shows that people cannot get enough of; but just what makes them so appealing and fascinating to watch?
With reality television, shows are over-the-top, unexpected and never cease to amaze with what they showcase. “Honey Boo-Boo” is a show that premiered on TLC about a young beauty pageant contestant, Alana Thompson, and her family, showing their lives behind the scenes of the pageantries in their hometown of McIntyre, Ga. The outspoken blonde seven-year-old had around three million viewers tuned in when the first episode aired, captivated by the behavior of the family and their thick country accents. Viewers and critics of the show either love the family and the entertainment they provide or despise the message being portrayed in the episodes. Some believe Thompson’s parents are exploiting their seven-year-old daughter for the fame and attention, and the eating habits for someone so young have health risks attached. Despite the tension from both sides, the show continues to grow in popularity. Regardless of opinion, Honey Boo Boo still has us talking about her, even right now.
“Breaking Amish,” also on TLC, is another new reality show that has captured the attention of millions. Cameras follow five men and women who have decided to leave their lifestyles and traditions in the Amish and Mennonite communities to pursue dreams and new lives. The audience follows these young individuals as they struggle to leave their families behind and transition into an unfamiliar world, specifically as they make their way to New York City while also being shunned by the community in which they once lived. The show allows the audience to step into a world unfamiliar to theirs and learn about a new culture they had never fully understood before.
When shows like “Honey Boo-Boo” or “Breaking Amish” come on the screen, we are immediately consumed. Even if one does not like the show, you cannot help but watch the drama and wonder what is going to happen next. One likes to see how others interact and live, and how similar or different others’ lives may be to their own. Reality television provides humor and entertainment, which are two key elements drawing our attention immediately to the show.
So why do not only these two shows, but other reality shows as well, captivate our attention so easily and become great conversation starters? Elizabethtown College sophomore Emily Mason stated that “they are unlike our everyday lives. They are so different and out of the ordinary that it is hard not to get drawn in.” Sophomore Hannah Heritage also commented by saying that “the shows appeal to the curiosity people have about others. We are fascinated by the drama and how outrageous they can be, because they are unscripted.”
Regardless of whether or not people seem to like or be completely offended and outraged by what television has been featuring as of late, they’re tuning in none-the-less. It just goes to show that media and popular culture isn’t necessarily what is the best of entertainment, but rather just what we allow it to be by feeding into it.